A week after shelving the contested greenfield airport plan at Parandur, Tamil Nadu has reignited its search for Chennai's second commercial aviation hub. The State government has formally zeroed in on two alternative locations—Cheyyur in Chengalpattu district and Manellore near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district—requesting the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to step in and conduct detailed pre-feasibility studies.
The Two Contenders: Strategic Locations and Obstacles
Initial site visits by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) have already concluded, marking the initial procedural hurdle. However, carving out runway space near Chennai comes with intricate navigational and defense entanglements. While Cheyyur lies roughly 40 km from Puducherry airport and nearly 35 km from Kalpakkam, Manellore sits about 50 km from Chennai city and 35 km from the Sriharikota spaceport.
| Metric / Factor | Cheyyur Site | Manellore (Gummidipoondi) |
|---|---|---|
| District | Chengalpattu | Tiruvallur |
| Key Proximities | 40 km to Puducherry airport; 35 km to Kalpakkam | 50 km to Chennai city center; 35 km to Sriharikota |
| Primary Hurdles | Indian Air Force (Tambaram) airspace overlap | Multiple regional regulatory and zone constraints |
| Inspection Status | TIDCO first inspection complete | TIDCO first inspection complete |
Defense Approvals and Regulatory Realities
Government insiders caution that getting a positive pre-feasibility assessment is only half the battle. Airspace control remains a decisive bottleneck, particularly for the southern site.
“There is some possibility for Cheyyur, provided the Ministry of Defence gives clearance, since the Indian Air Force, Tambaram, controls the airspace in the region. But Manellore in Gummidipoondi has quite a lot of challenges,” a source noted.
AAI inspectors are expected to land on both sites shortly, with their technical evaluations anticipated within months. Even if the state expedites paperwork and secures clearances, aviation planners estimate Chennai will have to wait at least 5 to 7 years before commercial flights touch down at either alternative runway.
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